Crackdown on violence against NHS staff announced

The NHS in Wales is working with police to introduce a crackdown on violence against its employees, it has been reported.

Edwina Hart, the health minister, is to sign an agreement introducing new regulations related to the treatment of health workers after figures showed that over 7,000 violent incidents took place within the NHS in Wales from 2007 to 2008.

The changes will mean that such cases will be referred to the police and greater efforts will be made to gather evidence surrounding each case.

“Some incidents may take the form of verbal abuse while others may lead to physical assaults. However, neither are acceptable and cause unnecessary stress to staff who are trying to do their job,” explained Ms Hart.

Meanwhile, NHS consultant Ramon Niekrash, who was suspended from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, told a tribunal last week that he was bullied and intimidated for highlighting problems brought about by cost-cutting at the medical hub.